Some things about dates to keep in mind in trying to out-reason CBS on TAR 16.

The Winter Olympics end Sunday, February 28th.

The first and second rounds of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament starts March 18-21. Question is whether CBS can get the tournament to avoid scheduling the final round 2 games to interfere with the Sunday primetime schedule in the east and central time zones. SOme years it has and other years it hasn't. Two of the first/second round cities are Spokane and San Jose.

Mother's Day in 2010 is May 9th; and Memorial Day is May 31st.

And keep in mind that Survivor 20 is a Tenth Anniversary All Star edition, so CBS will want to milk that for all its worth schedule-wise. I would expect that finale to be later than Mother's Day since its so early in May in 2010.

But this is a challenging puzzle isn't it, trying to get all these pieces to fit within what we know?

I had an interest in tracking the May holidays, so I looked them up. May 9 is indeed Mother's Day. It is only two days earlier than average, as Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May, which means it must fall from May 8 to May 14.

Memrorial Day used to be fixed on May 30 whatever day of the week that was, but some years back the U.S. went to a system of 3-days weekends with Memorial Day being the final Monday of May. That means it now falls from May 25 to May 31.

What does that mean for Amazing Race 16 scheduling? I believe it will start on March 7, meaning there will be 4 episodes telecast in March. Each year there are delays from the NCAA tournament running late, but that is not really different than what happens with football delays. I just expect that they will happen. April will have 4 episodes. May will have at least 3 and maybe 4. That still leaves May 23 for the Survivor finale. As I have demonstrated, it can fit. Starting any later is problematical, as that would push Survivor to May 30 or later. It is also possible that there would be at least one double episode of AR16. We'll have to wait for the CBS schedule before that would become clear.

After looking again at the filming data that walkingpneumonia provided, I think it is important to note they have never been out filming over Christmas. I would think every family member of the crew would want to kill them. There was only one time it filmed in January (season 2) and this is possible since it will probably premier later.I would put my money on tradition and a start very soon. The biggest clue would be anyone going missing (anyone know any astronauts, pro wrestlers or beauty queens who were supposed to be over for Thanksgiving?)As to where they start from, how about the Kodak Theater? It's in LA, they could premier it the night of the Academy Awards and poach some viewers from ABC and it's much prettier then a recent large drainage ditch.

I don't know specifics but from what I have heard it will be filming by the very end of November (def. by beginning of December) and will finish up just before Christmas (around the 20th I'd guess). Will post more details if I find out.

With one exception (for the filming of the All-Stars TAR 11) Phil has always been in NYC to present the winner's check on the Monday morning following the airing of the finale. He hasn't always been at TARcon, but he has been on the Early Show.

I don't know specifics but from what I have heard it will be filming by the very end of November (def. by beginning of December) and will finish up just before Christmas (around the 20th I'd guess). Will post more details if I find out.

I don't know specifics but from what I have heard it will be filming by the very end of November (def. by beginning of December) and will finish up just before Christmas (around the 20th I'd guess). Will post more details if I find out.

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November is ending by the next few days... do we have new updates for our beloved race?

Yes, filming definitely starts in the next few days. Possibly Saturday the 28th (going by last season starting on a Saturday). Crew is leaving like now. Yesterday and today. They get back just before Christmas so if you give them a day or two after the Race ends, the Race probably finishes about the 20th of December. That puts the start date around the 28-30 of November.

Everyone be on the lookout. Maybe someone can check for filming requests like last time??

Keep in mind that with the 3-week filming cycle that now used, the filming could begin as late as December 10th, and still be completed by New Years.

We haven't heard an official word from CBS to greenlight season 16, and it sure is confusing as to why that might be. I suspect CBS is still fiddling with the spring schedule, especially for May, with Memorial Day weekend being May 29-31.

I am still doubting that TAR would deliberately have the filming go over the holidays, they never have yet (except one near call, that was an accident). These cameraguys and Production people have families too.